Improvement in fluid compounds for embalming human bodies



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. GHENOWETH, OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUID COMPOUNDS FOR EMBALMING HUMAN. BODIES.

Qpocification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,602, dated November 18, 1873 application filrd June 2, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that I, WILLIAM E. CHENOWETH, of Baltimore coun ty, Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Fluid for Embalmin g Human Bodies; and I declare the following to be zfaifull and exact description of said compounded uid.

I take, of gum -ca1nphor, two ounces; pulverized aloes, one and a half ounce; sulphate of potassa, four ounces; balsam odendron myrrh, two ounces; pulverized saltpeter, four ounces; arsenic, six ounces; carbolic acid, two ounces; bromide of potassa, six ounces; acorns calamus, one and a half ounce; hydrochloric acid, or muriatico-zinc acid, two pounds. These I well compound and mix together, and then add one and a half to three gallons of high-rectified spirits of wine, the quantity to be determined by the state the body is in. If much decomposed, I use the lesser quantity of the spirits of wine, and so on.

When the mixture or fluid has stood for some time, it is again agitated, when, after settling, it is fit for use.

I do not claim any particular method of injecting this fluid into the subject; but I generally inject it by opening the femoral artery, and then, with a Davis No. 1 force-pump, I inject the fluid or I use any ordinary pump bodies of dead persons to embalm them; but

the above I have tried in quite a number of instances, and it has never failed to give entire satisfaction, and has always proved efi'ectual.

Having thus described my compound fluid, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The chemical compound mixed with the fluid as described, used and operated as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM E. OHENOWETH.

Witnesses:

W. N. WALTON, L. H. MILLIKEN. 

